A dad pulled on the handbrake of his ex-partner’s car as he was convinced she was driving in the wrong direction towards a Halloween costume shop.
Renfrew man Christopher O’Donnell, 32, admitted he pulled the handbrake on when Karen Fraser was driving with two young children in the car on October 29.
Raging O’Donnell also admitted that on the same date he shouted, swore and made threats of violence towards Ms Fraser.
Procurator fiscal depute Ian Mathieson told Paisley Sheriff Court: ”Around 7pm on Friday, October 29, the accused was within McDonald’s at the Phoenix Retail Park with two children.
“At that time, the accused was waiting on a taxi for approximately two hours to drop the children at a location before returning home.
“Unable to get a taxi, O’Donnell contacted his ex-partner Karen Fraser and she attended.
“O’Donnell and the two children got in to Ms Fraser’s vehicle. The accused sat in the rear seat behind his ex-partner.
“On entering the car, O’Donnell began shouting and swearing and acting in an aggressive manner.
“He stated, ‘You better drive me to Hillington right now or I’ll drag you out by the hair and drive myself.’
“The accused then began to repeatedly punch the back of the driver’s chair.
“Scared of her safety and the safety of the children, Ms Fraser drove out of the retail park towards Hillington.
“On approaching the slip road for the A737, the accused stated ‘This isn’t the right f*****g way.’
“And the accused took hold of the handbrake and pulled it and the vehicle suddenly was brought to a halt in the road.
“Ms Fraser released the handbrake and accelerated and drove to Hillington Industrial Estate.
“The accused asked Ms Fraser to go in to a Halloween costume shop with him, but she refused.
“The accused said ‘You will come with me to the shop right now’ in an threatening and abusive manner.
“Ms Fraser accompanied him into the shop and left a short time later.
“They all travelled back to Renfrew where O’Donnell left the vehicle and on November 1, Ms Fraser contacted the police.
“Police traced the accused and he was taken to Greenock police station when he was then released on an undertaking.”
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Defence agent Anthony Callaghan reserved mitigation as Sheriff Mundell indicated reports would be called for.
Sheriff Laura Mundell said: “The circumstances narrated to me are very concerning.
“Your conduct was extremely dangerous. It seems to be a miracle that neither you, your ex-partner, the children or any other road user were injured by you pulling on the handbrake from a back seat position.”
Sentence was deferred for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment until February 21.
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